Recruiting 101 Trying to Make Sense of the Process Recruiting 101

What is Available? 795 Colleges and Universities play football in US 1.2 million High School football players in around 14,000 High School programs

School Breakdown DivisionsPlayers$/TeamSchools Div. 113, FCS/1AA11, Div. II15, Div. III22, NAIA9, JC7,

What Are They Looking For? Division I Size/Speed/Grades Example: Alabama Roster Averages OLDLLB RB DBQBWRTE

Division I They will recruit their needs What do they have returning? Who got hurt in the Spring? SEC – Big Ten Local talent first then go out of state Ball State Notre Dame Indiana Purdue

Football Championship Series Size/Speed/Grades – some will have speed to compete but maybe not as big Size – but maybe not as fast Split their scholarships – package players Local Teams: Indiana State Butler and Valparaiso – Division 1 Non- Scholarship

Division II Size and Speed are still important Grades become more important – many are private schools Package Players – Grants/Academic/Athletic University of Indianapolis St. Joseph College

Division III Non-Scholarship Grades are very important – Merit based money Most are private schools Academic money plus Grants, loans, need based money Wabash, Hanover, Depauw, etc.

NAIA Not governed by the NCAA Athletic Money, grants, need based money and loans Limited number of scholarships – usually broken up Marian University St. Francis University in Ft. Wayne IN

Junior College NCAA regulated Full Scholarships available Division I athletes not eligible Two year schools and then recruited again to Division I schools – may commit after one year No football playing Junior Colleges in Indiana Joliet and a few in Michigan

Recruiting Funnel Division I School Recruiting Process Recruiting Letters 10,000-20,000 Film1,000-2,000 Phone Calls500 Verbal Offers Signed Players25

Where Can I Play? Go online and check out the roster Do I match their height/weight of the players at my position? Google the highlight films of the players on the roster – Do I play at the same speed? Be REALISTIC

How do I help myself? Be Proactive Create a one page resume – send to school with link to highlight film – Height/Weight – Speed – Grades – Why you want to play college football – Short and sweet do not have time to read too much – Do not lie!!!!!! – George O’Leary

Highlight Films Do not put a speed down No Music!!!! Best 5 plays first! Circle yourself – unless you are a QB No instant replays No slo-mo No more than 4 minutes Add your best game so they can watch you play a whole game

Highlight Films Good and Bad Film – Bad Film fjWLi_na0U Good Film –

Combines Money Maker Question: What do YOU get for your money? 40 Time/Height-Weight/Bench/Agility time Accurate? Do Colleges pay attention to them? Invite you back – pay more money to go?

Recruiting Services Make you a highlight film Send it all over US You can make your own film – Hudl I can send anywhere you want Do you really want to go to Northeastern Arizona State University? WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY?

College One Day Camps Tryouts – auditions Go to big camps with the most exposure Plus – lots of coaches Negative – lots of kids Bottom line: big schools want to watch you move – then offer or move on Watch you interact as well – all filmed Spend a lot money and time – choose wisely

What Should I do? Time Frame Freshmen – GRADES!!!! – Play ball/lift Sophomore – if you play varsity – create highlight film – Create resume/cover letter – send it out – Shot gun effect – some big/some middle/some small – Realize location (SEC and Indiana example) – GRADES!!!!

Time Frame Junior – Play well – send film out/GRADES Big Schools – offer in January – April prior to senior season Big Schools will be done by summer BSU/ISU etc. – little slower but may offer D2/D3/NAIA – just beginning – see what has trickled down

Academics Eligibility Center – New Rules – Find sliding scale for grades/test scores New for incoming freshmen class ACT/SAT – spring of junior year Not all grade count: Theology/PE/Art/Music, business and Band

Time Frame Senior – GRADES Not offered by Big Ten – probably not going to happen D2 offers in fall with college visits in January D3 – college visits in January/February – financial aid packages based on FAFSA forms March – D2 and D3 decision time Walk-ons – Preferred v. regular

Coach’s Role Create list of juniors Height/Weight/Academics – contact information Coach will recommend based on universities requirements Distribute to as many coaches that come to building or send an Somewhere between schools

Coach’s Role #1 – Coach cannot get your player a scholarship Recommend based on requirements of the university – HT/WT/Speed/Grades etc. D1 usually takes care of itself – they will decide if you can play or not – Trueblood example D2/D3 – coach’s job – to help sell these kids

Coach’s Role The College coach’s mortgage payment is based on whether he can see talent They will do their homework Borderline – tweeners Three things I will vouch for: – 1- Academics – 2- Work Ethic – 3- Character

Parent Questions What does the scholarship pay for? How long is the scholarship for? What kind of academic support do you give the players? Where is my son on your recruiting board? What is the time commitment for football versus academics?

Bottom Line Be Proactive Recruit the school you want to go to *Schools cannot call you back but you may call them as many times as you wish – visit too! Find a school where you will be comfortable if football goes away

Thank You Questions??